STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- People from several different faiths came together in Tompkinsville Sunday night for a Thanksgiving celebration.

The Building Bridges Coalition came together at the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center to celebrate the holiday, and recognize that their faith is what unites them.

Leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist congregations spoke about the things they are thankful for, and to remind the more than 60 attendees the importance of their faith.

"It's often that people of faith seem uncertain of these times," Deacon John McBeth of St. Philip's Baptist Church in Port Richmond said. "As people of faith, we need to practice that faith. Now is the time."

The evening began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Islamic Cultural Center.

"We are Americans. We are loyal to this country, and we are faithful in God's gifts," Kukaj said. "It's sad. That rhetoric of hate, disparaging people's faith; these are not American values."

The coalition has been hosting the annual event for more than a decade at various places of worship on the Island, Mona Zaloom, coordinator for Building Bridges Coalition of Staten Island, said.

She added that the group is not a religious organization, but an organization composed of various ethnic and religious communities within Staten Island that meet to share common concerns and develop community programs.

"We're living in a world that is completely torn apart. Everything's just Helter Skelter," Zaloom said. "We need to come together as Americans as people."

Sunday evening's event consisted of several activities, including to calls to prayer, and the lighting of 10 candles -- five red candles to represent each faith and five white candles to represent various concepts and hopes that those at the event have for the world.

Kurkaj, who led last night's event, was less focused on the rhetoric against people of certain faiths, and more impressed with the outpouring of support he has received from leaders in other religions.

"We feel we are safer when we get that support. We feel that we are in the right place, in the right country," he said.

He spoke about the importance of people of faith to work together, citing the Islamic Cultural Center's collaboration with Deacon Paul Kolinski, the director of community outreach for Project Hospitality.

After a member of the cultural center donated 400 turkeys, Kurkaj worked with Project Hospitality to ensure that the birds went to Staten Island's neediest.

Reverend Bob Hansen of Amazing Grace Interfaith Ministry in Concord said the importance of events like the Thanksgiving celebration is to bring different faiths closer together.

"The more you know about another person's religion, the more you realize it's the same as yours," Hansen said.

He and his wife, Mary, led a Buddhist call to prayer at the event. He added that he believes faith is still a major part of the country's fabric.

"People have a deeper faith, but they're not comfortable talking about it," he said. "I think you would find out how much faith there is if they tried to take it away."